Nation's No. 3 DL Updates Intense Recruiting Battle Between Alabama, Auburn

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Jun 11, 2025 - 01:30

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Nation's No. 3 DL Updates Intense Recruiting Battle Between Alabama, Auburn originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Two contenders have emerged for class of 2026 four-star recruit Nolan Wilson, one of the top defensive lineman in the country.

Wilson (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) plays for Picayune (Mississippi) Memorial High School, where he ranks as the No. 3 player at the position, the No. 4 player in the state and the No. 44 recruit in the country, per On3.

Five major college football programs made Wilson's top schools back in May, featuring Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miami and Florida.

The summer is a crucial point for teams to make their best pitches to highly-coveted recruits like Wilson, who had already been on campus at Miami (April 3), Texas A&M (May 16) and Alabama (May 30) before making a trip to Auburn over the weekend.

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer and Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In-state rival Alabama was previously believed to be Wilson's leader, but head coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers must have made a significant impression.

That official visit propelled Auburn to the top alongside head coach Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide, according to Wilson.

"I say they're equal," Wilson said via Rivals' Caleb Jones. "I think they're the contenders."

The SEC rivals are used to recruiting against each other and had a lot of success in the 2025 cycle with Alabama signing the nation's No. 3 class and Auburn not far behind at No. 8.

Wilson's summer schedule isn't over yet, including official visits to Ole Miss (June 13) and Miami (June 20). No commitment date has been scheduled at this point, but it wouldn't be a surprise for Wilson to make his decision before his senior season.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.